Alan graduated from Liverpool Veterinary school in 1993 having also intercalated in molecular biology. After a short locum in Newcastle, he completed an internship in Dublin in Small Animal Medicine.
He returned to the UK to do his PhD on the mechanisms of feline calicivirus persistence.
Subsequently, he has continued to study the persistence, molecular epidemiology and vaccination of feline calicivirus and has a general interest in virology.
He also works closely with Manchester University studying the impact of host genetic variability on disease susceptibility that will ultimately hope to explain why animals respond differently to the same antigenic challenge whether following infection or vaccination.
Alan’s other interests include teaching communication skills. As well as the European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases, he is a member of the BSAVA scientific committee, and the Feline Advisory Bureau expert panel.